Proverbs 20

¹ Turne thou wickid men, and thei schulen not be; but the housis of iust men schulen dwelle perfitli. ² A man schal be knowun bi his teching; but he that is veyn and hertles, schal be open to dispising. ³ Betere is a pore man, and sufficient to him silf, than a gloriouse man, and nedi of breed. ⁴ A iust man knowith the soulis of hise werk beestis; but the entrailis of wickid men ben cruel. ⁵ He that worchith his lond, schal be fillid with looues; but he that sueth idilnesse, is moost fool. He that is swete, lyueth in temperaunces; and in hise monestyngis he forsakith dispisyngis. ⁶ The desir of a wickid man is the memorial of worste thingis; but the roote of iust men schal encreesse. ⁷ For the synnes of lippis `falling doun neiyeth to an yuel man; but a iust man schal scape fro angwisch. ⁸ Of the fruyt of his mouth ech man schal be fillid with goodis; and bi the werkis of hise hondis it schal be yoldun to him. ⁹ The weie of a fool is riytful in hise iyen; but he that is wijs, herith counsels. ¹⁰ A fool schewith anoon his ire; but he that dissymelith wrongis, is wijs. ¹¹ He that spekith that, that he knowith, is a iuge of riytfulnesse; but he that lieth, is a gileful witnesse. ¹² A man is that bihetith, and he is prickid as with the swerd of conscience; but the tunge of wise men is helthe. ¹³ The lippe of treuthe schal be stidfast with outen ende; but he that is a sudeyn witnesse, makith redi the tunge of leesyng. ¹⁴ Gile is in the herte of hem that thenken yuels; but ioye sueth hem, that maken counsels of pees. ¹⁵ What euere bifallith to a iust man, it schal not make hym sori; but wickid men schulen be fillid with yuel. ¹⁶ False lippis is abhominacioun to the Lord; but thei that don feithfuli, plesen him. ¹⁷ A fel man hilith kunnyng; and the herte of vnwise men stirith foli. ¹⁸ The hond of stronge men schal haue lordschip; but the hond that is slow, schal serue to tributis. ¹⁹ Morenynge in the herte of a iust man schal make hym meke; and he schal be maad glad bi a good word. ²⁰ He that dispisith harm for a frend, is a iust man; but the weie of wickid men schal disseyue hem. ²¹ A gileful man schal not fynde wynnyng; and the substaunce of man schal be the prijs of gold. ²² Lijf is in the path of riytfulnesse; but the wrong weie leedith to deeth. ²⁴ A wijs sone is the teching of the fadir; but he that is a scornere, herith not, whanne he is repreuyd. ²⁵ A man schal be fillid with goodis of the fruit of his mouth; but the soule of vnpitouse men is wickid. ²⁶ He that kepith his mouth, kepith his soule; but he that is vnwar to speke, schal feel yuels. ²⁷ A slow man wole, and wole not; but the soule of hem that worchen schal be maad fat. ²⁸ A iust man schal wlate a fals word; but a wickid man schendith, and schal be schent. ²⁹ Riytfulnesse kepith the weie of an innocent man; but wickidnesse disseyueth a synnere. ³⁰ A man is as riche, whanne he hath no thing; and a man is as pore, whanne he is in many richessis.